Three of the most damaging and costliest hailstorms in the history of Austin, Texas, have all occurred on March 25.
While Texas usually waits for the months of April and May to experience its worst thunderstorm activity, March 25 stands out as the one day in the past 20 years to watch out for.
View the Original article
United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas Robert Pitman announced that the San Antonio Police Department and the Austin Police Department will each receive $200,000 in federal grant money to combat the purchase and sale of counterfeit and pirated products.
The announcement is part of a broader national announcement by Attorney General Eric Holder and Deputy Attorney General James Cole that more than $2.4 million in grants is being awarded to 13 jurisdictions around the country to combat this problem.
Intellectual Property (IP) theft refers to the violation of criminal laws that protect copyrights, patents, trademarks, other forms of intellectual property and trade secrets, both in the United States and abroad. In some cases, these activities are used to fund dangerous or even violent criminal enterprises and organized crime networks.
The San Antonio Police Department has been awarded $200,000 in support of its Targeting Intellectual Property Project (TIPP). The goal of this project is the protection intellectual property rights and the public by reducing the number of pirated and counterfeited goods sold or manufactured and prosecuting those parties responsible for distributing, trafficking in, manufacturing or otherwise profiting from these illegal items.
The Austin Police Department has been awarded $200,000 to implement the City of Austin Intellectual Property Crime Enforcement (IPCE) Program, the primary goal of which is increased criminal investigation, prosecution, prevention, and education activities related to IP theft.
View the Original article
Texas police say they’ve smashed an international shoplifting ring that pilfered such goods as laundry detergent, batteries and cosmetics for sale at flea markets or smuggling into Mexico.
Austin police Officer Dustin Smart says stolen goods with an estimated worth topping $50,000 was stolen from Austin-area outlets. He says thieves stole from such south Austin retailers as Target and H-E-B until a month-and-a-half-long police sting broke up the operation.
A woman has been arrested and her husband and six others are being sought. According to the Austin American-Statesman, an affidavit says one H-E-B supermarket reported a $10,000 loss of shampoo alone during January.
A raid of a house in south Austin turned up about $35,000 in stolen goods.
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetCategories: Texas / South Central NewsTopics: Commercial Lines, Safety & Loss Control, shoplifting, TexasHave a hot lead? Email us at newsdesk